The National Industry Innovation Network has launched a new cyber security awareness initiative for Australian parliamentarians, aimed at strengthening resilience within the parliamentary environment as cyber threats continue to escalate.
Developed in collaboration with Cisco and the University of Canberra, the Securing Our Future: Cyber Essentials for Parliamentarians series is designed to provide practical, everyday guidance tailored specifically to the unique risk profile faced by elected representatives and their staff. The program focuses on improving personal cyber safety and embedding cyber-aware practices into daily parliamentary work, supporting the integrity of Australia’s democratic institutions.
With parliamentarians routinely handling sensitive information and operating in a highly visible environment, organisers say cyber readiness is no longer optional. The series examines the evolving threat landscape and translates complex cyber risks into actionable steps that can be applied without specialist technical knowledge.
University of Canberra vice-chancellor and president Professor the Hon Bill Shorten said cyber security must be treated as a leadership issue, not just a technical one. He said ensuring parliamentarians and their staff understand cyber risks and how to manage them is fundamental to maintaining trust in democratic systems.
Marc Caltabiano, regional vice president ANZ at Splunk, a Cisco company, said parliamentarians are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated and persistent threat actors, particularly as artificial intelligence accelerates the pace and scale of cyber attacks. He said practical and actionable awareness is essential to reducing risk and strengthening institutional resilience.
Cisco’s head of cybersecurity policy for Asia-Pacific, Sarah Sloan, said the initiative marks the beginning of a broader national effort. She said Cisco, working with NIIN partners, plans to deliver the series across Australia to ensure parliamentarians and their staff at all levels have access to essential cyber security knowledge and tools.
The launch also featured contributions from senior parliamentary leaders, including Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Dr Andrew Charlton, Speaker of the House Milton Dick, and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Senator Jonathon Duniam. Their participation underscored bipartisan recognition of the importance of cyber resilience within Australia’s political system.
The initiative coincides with Safer Internet Day and will be followed by a series of virtual sessions covering the current cyber threat landscape, emerging attack vectors and core cyber hygiene practices, including secure device use and authentication. For government and security leaders, the program highlights a growing focus on cyber security as a foundational element of national resilience and democratic trust.
